In the classic book Precious Against Satan's Devices, Thomas Brooks explains on of the devices that Satan uses to keep the saints in a sad condition. Surely our sighing and sorrow adds to that. In losing the comforts we have had in the joy of our salvation and redemption, it is a gentle slope to feeling hopeless and discouraged. To forget who we are is in need of a remedy. We must not lose sight of our hope! One of the remedies that Brooks gives the reader echoes Isaiah 51:11.
The fifth remedy against this device of Satan is, to consider, That God will
restore and make up the comforts of his people. Though your candle be put out, yet
God will light it again, and make it burn more bright than ever. Though your sun for the
present be clouded, yet he who rides upon the clouds shall scatter those clouds, and
cause the sun to shine and warm your heart as in former days, as the psalmist speaks:
'You who have showed me great and sore troubles, shall quicken me again, and shall
bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, and
comfort me on every side' (Psalm 71:20, 21).
God takes away a little comfort, that he may make room in the soul for a greater
degree of comfort. This the prophet Isaiah sweetly shows: 'I have seen his ways, and
will heal him; I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him, and to his mourners'
(Isa. 57:18). Bear up sweetly, O precious soul! your storm shall end in a calm, and your
dark night in a sunshine day! Your mourning shall be turned into rejoicing, and the
waters of consolation shall be sweeter and higher in your soul than ever! The mercy is
surely yours—but the time of giving it is the Lord's. Wait but a little, and you shall find
the Lord comforting you on every side. See Psalm 126:6, and 42:7, 8.
May we all find our rest in remembering that we are redeemed in Christ, and he will bring about his kingdom that will know no end. Sorrow and sighing will flee. Our joy and happiness and singing and gladness will know know end, because Jesus will know no end.